Baripada: In a chilling case that has sent shockwaves through the Nuagaon area under Kuliana police limits of Mayurbhanj district, a woman and her daughter, who had been missing since July 19, were found brutally murdered and buried in the backyard of their own home.
The accused, Debasish Patra — son-in-law of the deceased and husband of the younger victim — has been arrested by police.
The victims have been identified as Sonali Dalei (23) and her mother Sumati Dalei (55).
According to police sources, Debasish allegedly killed the two women on July 19 by bludgeoning them with a stone. He then buried their bodies in a pit in the backyard and planted banana saplings over the grave in an attempt to conceal the crime.
The disappearance of the mother and daughter was first reported to Kuliana police on July 15. Over the following days, suspicions grew among local villagers, especially when they noticed freshly disturbed soil in Debasish’s garden. Concerned by the irregularity and Sonali’s continued absence, they alerted the police.
Responding to the tip-off, police conducted a search at the property, leading to the discovery and exhumation of the bodies. The double murder has shocked the local community and law enforcement officials alike due to its cold and calculated execution.
Investigations have revealed that Debasish, who had previously been married to a healthcare worker and is involved in a legal dispute with his first wife, married Sonali two years ago.
Police suspect long-standing domestic tensions may have played a role in the murders, though the exact motive is yet to be confirmed.
A detailed investigation is underway to uncover further details behind the heinous crime.
